Colorado Springs, CO – A significant law enforcement operation took place Sunday morning as more than 300 local, state, and federal officers assisted the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in executing a major raid on an underground nightclub in Colorado Springs. The operation, which was led by the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, resulted in the detention of 114 individuals who were reportedly in the country illegally.
The raid, which occurred at a strip mall behind a Conoco gas station on Academy Boulevard, uncovered a range of illegal activities, including drug distribution, prostitution, and firearms violations. Authorities seized large quantities of illicit substances, including a notable amount of pink cocaine, which is often associated with high-risk, underground drug trafficking.
The DEA reports that the underground nightclub was operating in plain sight, hidden within a strip mall in a typically quiet part of Colorado Springs. At the time of the raid, approximately 200 individuals were inside the establishment, with some involved in illicit activities while others were present as patrons. Among those detained were over a dozen U.S. active-duty service members, who were reportedly working as armed security guards or were attending the nightclub as customers.
The operation has raised concerns about the possible infiltration of military personnel into criminal enterprises, with Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division confirming the involvement of military service members. “The individuals detained included both patrons and individuals working as security guards at the establishment, which further complicates the scope of this investigation,” Pullen said.
The raid also saw the involvement of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which responded to detain individuals who were in the country illegally. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has also been brought in to investigate the connection between the military personnel and the illegal activities at the nightclub.
DEA agents and ICE officers worked in tandem during the operation, and a variety of evidence was seized, including firearms and other contraband. The raid highlights the ongoing collaboration between local and federal agencies in combating the growing threat of underground criminal enterprises.
The discovery of such a large-scale operation in Colorado Springs has raised questions about the extent of organized criminal activity operating under the radar in the region. The fact that military personnel were involved in the operation adds another layer of complexity to the investigation, as it points to a potential national security concern.
Authorities have not yet released all details about the individuals arrested, but the operation has prompted further investigations into the network of individuals behind the nightclub’s operations.
As the investigation continues, local residents and law enforcement officials are grappling with the shocking realization that a criminal enterprise of this scale could have existed undetected for so long in the heart of Colorado Springs.
The DEA and its partners are expected to provide additional updates as the operation progresses. Meanwhile, the community remains on edge, awaiting answers about the full extent of the illegal activities uncovered in this major raid.
